| |
| |
| | |
VEGF and Neovascularization in AMD
Neovascularization is central to the disease pathogenesis for both AMD and Diabetic Retinpathy (DR). Both of these diseases have similar mechanisms along the signaling pathway leading to neovascularization and its accompanying visual degradation.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) has been shown to be the central stimulus in the development of ocular neovascularization. It is correlated with ocular neovascularization and has been found to be both necessary and sufficient for the formation of new blood vessels in animal models. Abnormal expression of VEGF is therefore widely believed to be responsible for stimulating the degenerative state in the eye which causes AMD and DR. Inhibiting VEGF stops the disease in well-validated animal models of wet AMD and DR. Additionally, experiments appear to indicate that VEGF may enable newly formed blood vessels in the retina to survive. VEGF is a well-validated target in predictive animal models, as well as in clinical trials in ophthalmology, including age-related macular degeneration, and oncology.
| |
| | |  | | | | |
| |
| |
|
| OPKO currently enrolling Phase 3 trial with Bevasiranib in wet AMD. |
| full details |
| |
|
|
